Death Notifications
Go into the process of notifying others about the death of your loved one knowing that it will be emotional and hard but that you are capable and will get through it. Try and take it one person at a time and don’t put a time limit on it because you should be available to comfort the person you are telling.
Community:
The obituary is a good way to let the greater community know that someone has passed. Also remembrance posts on social media (similar information to an obituary) will also help spread the word. But be prepared once the information is out it will naturally spread, so be prepared for condolences.
Others(loved one’s and friends):
Meet the person face to face to have the conversation if possible. If not facetime is better than a call, anything to make it more personal. Be ready to give them the support they need and be as empathetic as possible, understand that everyone reacts and grieves in different ways so don’t be judgemental. Make the moment about them and just be there to listen. Avoid talking about yourself, giving advice, and telling stories. They aren’t in the headspace to take other information in, so just give them time to process it and be there if they need someone. Link them to resources if they need them and see if they want to be involved in any of the post-death processes like going through the loved one's stuff or planning the funeral services.
Kids:
Tell them in a quiet and safe place, be very patient, empathic and truthful. Make sure they are paying attention and tell them in clear simple terms (use constant language and “death/died” instead of “passed away” or “lost”) and then allow them time to process it. Make sure you are also speaking slowly and being honest. Explain to them the possible emotions they might feel and give them reassurance that they did nothing wrong and you are there to support them. Be ready to give them support and answer any questions but don’t smother them so they are able to fully process the information. It can also help to lead by example and grieve in front of them and with them. If you feel they need it you can also link them to resources and professionals.